Firm constructs 100m/- dam for Monduli villagers

A French engineering firm is constructing a large dam here in a bid to mitigate water woes facing the community in Lepruko ward, Monduli district, in Arusha region.

The construction company – Sogea Satom, which is rehabilitating the Arusha-Minjingu highway - will inject nearly 100m/- in the construction of the dam at Nanja village as their contribution to the community.

The dam, with a projected life span of 120 years, will supply domestic water for over 5000 villagers and drinking liquid for around 20,000 cattle in the semi-arid ward.

Nanja village chairman Ting’ide Shamburi said the water blues have been troubling the area since independence, thanking the firm for saving them.

“This area is ripe for livestock keeping and once we have water we will be able to progress as water will be abundantly available all the year round,” said Shamburi.

Nanja village women spokesperson Rehema Sangar’ said she was happy with the Sogea Satom firm for its generous assistance.

“I am happy because our plight of waking up in the wee hours and walk 15 km everyday in search of water will become history once the dam is completed,” Rehema explained.

“We prayed to God for years to make miracles in order for us to get water; this dam project is the answer to our prayers,” she added.

Village executive officer Sandeta Moikan said livestock would benefit immensely from the dam and commended Sogea Satom for its bold decision to make something beyond their project.

The firm's public relations officer, Jamal Nassoro Addi, said the dam, which will cost the company not less than 100m/-, will be ready in two weeks or so.

“We have decided to construct this dam, whose lifespan is 120 years, as part of our corporate social responsibility,” Addi noted.

Sogea Satom Project manager Fred Hartmann said the company needed to also contribute to the welfare of the community where it worked.